Impulse-transmitter.



W. M. BRUCE, JR. IMPULSE TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1911:

1,1 24, 1 05, Patented Jan.5, 1915.

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W. M. BRUCE, J n. IMPULSE TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED no.7, 1911.

1 12 4 10 Patented Jan.5,1915.

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WILLIAM M. BRUCE, JR., OF URBANA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

IMPULsE-TRANsMITTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed December 7, 1911. Serial No. 664,410.

J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Urbana, in the countyof Champaign and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements -in Impulse-Transmitters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in impulse transmitters forelectrical circuits, the devices shown and described particularlyrelating to calling devices for antomatic telephone systems, althoughthey are not necessarily limited to such use; the inventionimoreparticularly relating to improvements upon the calling device describedin the pending application of William F. Hoflman, Serial No. 629,581,filed May 26th, 1911.

One of the objects of theinvention is to provide a locking device forthe keys, so that when one of the keys has been depressed and themechanism operated, so soon as the depressed key has returned to itsnormal position, the other keys will be locked until the mechanism hasreached its normal position.

A further object of the invention is to improve the manner oftransmitting the movement of the operating keys to the operatingmechanism, so as to make the operation of said keys more uniform.

A further ob'ect of the invention is to provide means or preventingoverthrow of the operating mechanism by the action of the operatingkeys.

A further object of the invention is to provide for making moreeffective the operation of that part of the mechanism which actsdirectly upon the circuit breakers by slowing the speed and thusincreasing the power thereof, this construction also permitting themechanism to be kept in better control by the governor.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen theconstruction and make more effective the operation thereof in devices ofthe character referred to.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of partshereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is the top plan view with aportion of the frame broken away to illustrate the interiorconstruction. Fig. 2 is the bottom plan view Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3-3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig.

5 is a top plan view in detail of the main operating plate anddisk. Fig.6 is a top plan View of the locking plate for the keys. F 1g. is asection on the line 77 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectionon the.line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a perspective view indetail of one of theoperating keys.

Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference in theseveral views. As in the previous pending application referred to, thereis provided a frame consisting of an upper and a bottom plate 1 and 2and an intermediate plate 3, these plates being circular in form andconnected together by the posts 4, 5 and 6. Centrally journaled in theframe plates 2 and 8, is a main driving shaft 7, having connectedthereto just beneath the frame plate 2, one

end of a coil spring 8, the other end of said spring being secured tothe housing 9, which housing is secured to the under side of the plate2' and incloses said spring. Secured to the shaft 7 by the pin 11, is aratchet wheel 10. Journaled-loosely on said shaft 7 1s a gear wheel 12,of larger diameter than, and lying closely adjacent to, said ratchetwheeL' This gear wheel 12 carries a spring pressed pawl 13 (Fig. 7adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 10 so as to causethe gear 12 to revolve in one direction therewith but permit saidratchet wheel to move freely in the opposite direction.

Journaled loosely in the frame plates 2 and 3, is a shaft 14 havingsecured thereto a pinion 15 which meshes with the large gear 12. Thisshaft 14 has secured to its lower end just beneath the frame plate 2 adisk 16, having about its periphery a series of equally spacedprojections or teeth 17, 14 in number in the present instance. Theproportion of the gearing is such that a movement of the large gear 12 adistance of one notch of the ratchet wheel 10 will impart a movement tothe disk 16 equal to one tooth or projection thereon. As the disk 16revolves, the projections 17 are adapted to strike the inturned end ofthe spring strip 18, which forms one member of the circuit breaker, 19representing the other stationary member. These circuit breaking membersare secured to the under side of the frame plate 2, being spaced apartand from the plate by insulating blocks 20 and having contact points21,-

being held in its normal inoperative upright position by a spring 25, ona pin 26, which projects from a block 27, secured to the key stem; saidblocks 27 also serving as stops for the keys by contacting the lowerside of the top plate 1, and the upper side of the plate 3, so as tolimit the upward and downward movement of the keys. As the respectivekeys are depressed, they are adapted to impart varying movements to theoperating disk 22 and hence to the operating mechanism. Located upon theouter edge of the disk 22 is a series of ten inclined projectingfingers, a a a (1*, a a, a, a a", and a", all arranged at substantiallythe same distance from the center of rotation of, said disk; adapted tocooperate with the respective keys, one project-ion being provided foreach key. Secured to each of the blocks 27 is a cam plate 29 formed withan inclined surface 30. The faces 30 gradually vary in inclination; saidfaces being gradually decreased in inclination from the key a to the keya", so that the depressing of the keys will impart varying movements tothe, disk 22, this movement gradually increasing from the key marked 1to the key marked 0;

e The inclination of the fingers a (1 etc., is

preferably such that the friction rollers 28, thereon project atsubstantlally rlght angles to the longitudinal planes of theinclinedsurfaces 30 in the normal position of the mechanism.

The upper end of each of the plates 29 is providedwith a hook-shapedportion 31,

adapted, as the depressed key reaches the number of impulses over thecircuit intended as determined by the depressed key. After a key hasbeen depressed and the mechanism operated, the key when released isreturned quickly to its normal posltlon by its spring. The mechanlsm,however, returns more slowly to its normal pos1t1on and it would bepossible forthe operator to depress a second key before the mechanismhad reached itsnormal position and thus cause an improper operation ofthe device. To prevent this, there is provided a locking device by whichall of the keys are locked against depression after the operated key hasreached its normal position, until the mechanism has been restored toits normal position. This locking device is in the nature of a plate 32,journaled loosely'upon the shaft 7, just beneath the frame plate 3 andheld in position by headed'screws 32 which project through slottedopenings 32 in said locking plate, thus permitting a limited movement ofsaid locking plate with respect to the frame part 3. It has beenpreviously stated that the key stems 23 are is provided with a series ofcircular recesses 35, ten in number, which normally coincide with theopenings 33, in the frame plate 3. Projecting upwardly from the lockingplate 32 is a pin 36 which extends through an enlarged opening 37 in theframe plate 1 3, thence through a slotted opening 38 in the operatingdisk 22, and thence between the free ends of a pair of levers 39 and 40,the inner ends of which are pivoted to the oper ating disk 22, as at 41.Projecting upwardly from the operating disk 22 is a pin 42. The freeends of these levers are normally held against the pins 36 and 42 by thecoil spring 43, connecting the respective levers near their pivotedends. The construction is such that in the normal condition of thedevice, the freeends of the levers, acting upon the pin 36, will holdthe looking plate 32 in position to cause the recesses 35 to coincidewith the openings 33, in which 22 moves from normal position under theinfluence of an operated key, the pin 42 thereon will swing the lever 39against the tension of the spring 43. The other lever 40 bears againstthe pin 36 of the locking plate and so soon as the operated key hasreturned to normal position, so that its stem 23 is removed from thepath of the locking plate, said lever 40 will, due to the influence ofthe spring 43, rotate said locking plate until the solid portion thereofcomes beneath each of the openings 33 to 7 form a bar or look for eachof the key stems;

the movement of the plate to locking posi-" tion being limited by theheaded screws 32*, contacting the ends of the slots 32*.

As the operating mechanism nears the end of its return movement tonormal position, it will cause the lever 39 and pin 42 to contactrespectively the lever 40 and pin 36, and thus restore these parts tonormal position, thus unlocking the keys, in the ordinary operation ofthe device. In some cases, however, it may happen that an inexperiencedoperator will attempt to depress a second key after the locking platehas moved to locking position and cause the end of the stem of this keyto bear against the locking plate with sufficient pressure to preventthe lever 39 from restoring the locking plate back to normal position.In such an event, it will be seen that the pin 42 on the main operatingdisk 22 is still free to move to normal position, thus insuring theoperating mechanism being restored to normal position; the lever 39 andpin 36 simply remaining in the locking position of the plate 32 (shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1; the normal position of the lever 40 and thepin 42 being likewise shown in dotted lines in this figure) until suchtime as the pressure on the key is removed, as it must be before. it canbe fully depressed, whereupon the lever 39 will restore the pin 36 andthe locking plate to normal'position to unlock the keys.

The governor for regulating the speed of the mechanism is located on theshaft. 44, 'journaled loosely in the frame parts 2 and 3, this governorconsisting of a pair of'pivoted shoes 45 (shown in dotted lines in Fig.

4') which are thrown out by centrifugal force against the inner wall ofthe casing 16 so that the frictional contact will act as a brake in amanner well known. The shaft a4 is driven from the shaft 14 through themedium of the pinion 47, gear 48 on the intermediate shaft 49, pinion 50on said shaft 49 and gear on the shaft 14:; the proportion of thegearing being. such that the shaft 44 will be driven at a much greaterspeed than the shaft 14.

The mechanism is held in check by a projection 61 on the governor shaft44: which forms a stop for the arm 62 secured to the main shaft 7; theend of the arm 62 being provided with an adjustable screw 63 whichcontacts directly with. the projection 61. This adjustable screw 63 isprovided so that the parts may be correctly timed to give the correctthrow to the ratchet wheel 10; it being understood that the key marked lwill move said ratchet wheel a distance of one notch therein, the keymarked 2 a distance of two notches, etc.- Each of the -levers 39 and 4:0is also provided with adjusting screws. 64 and 65 so that the movementof the locking plate may be accurately timed to cause the recesses 35therein to register properly with the openings 33.

In the operation of this device it might happen, if the operator, afterdepressing a key should retard the return movement thereof by failing tocompletely remove the pressure thereon, the mechanism wouldfail toreturn to its normal position at normal speed, which would result in theimpulses failing to operate the switch mechanism in the exchangeproperly. In order to obviate this, I have provided means whereby theoperating mechanism is prevented from starting to return to normalposition until after 65 the depressed key has been fully returned to itsnormal position. This is accomplished by providing a detent 66 connectedwith the locking plate 32 which normally stands in the path of a pin 67,on the shaft 44 of the governor (see Fig. 4). It will be remembered thatit is necessary for the operated key to return fully to normal positionbefore the locking plate may move to looking position, so that when thelocking plate does move to locking position, the detent 66 is removedfrom the path of the pin 67 and thus unlocks the operating mechanism andpermits it to return to its normal position, thus operating the circuitterminals in the manner heretofore described.

In the following claims, where I have used the term operating device Ihave referred to the impulsesending mechanism or its mechanicalequivalent, and wherever I have used the term actuating devices I havereferred to the push-button keys or their mechanical equivalents. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, aseries of actuating devices to cause said operating mechanism to openand close said terminals a varying number of times determined by theactuating device operated, and means, operable after the completeoperation of any one of said actuating devices, for looking all of saidactuating devices against operation until after the complete operationof said operating mechanism,

2. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, aseries of actuating devices for setting said operating mechanism atvarying positions, means for returning said operating mechanism tonormal position to cause said mechanism to open and close said terminalsa number of times'determi'ned by the operated actuating device, a lockfor said actuating devices, means for throwing said look into lockingposition after a complete operation of the operated actuating device,and means for restoring said lock to normal unlocking position by saidoperating mechanism at the end of its return movement to normalposition.

.3. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, aseries of actuating devices for setting said operating mechanism atvarying positions, means for returning said operating mechanism tonormal position to cause said mechanism to open and close said terminalsa number of times determined by the operated actuating device, and meansafter the complete operation of any one of said actuating devices toprevent the operation of all of said actuating devices until after saidoperating mechanism has returned to normal position.

4. In an impulse transmitter, the combi- I plete operation of any one ofsaid actuating devices, for preventing the operation of all of saidactuating devices until after said operating mechanismhas been returnedto normal position.

5. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, of circuit terminals, anoperating .2 v

mechanismfa series of actuating devices, said operating mechanismcomprising a motor adapted to be energized by the operation of any oneof said actuating devices for returning said operating mechanism tonormal position, means for restoring said actuating devices to normalposition independent of said actuating mechanism, and

'means operable after the complete operation of the operated actuatingdevice for preventing the operation of any actuating device until aftersaid operating mechanism has been restored to normal position.

6. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series of keyscooperating with said operating mechanism to move the same varyingdistances, means for returning said operating mechanism to normalposition, means for returning each of said actuating devices to normalposition independent of the operating mechanism and its restoring means,and devicesoperable after the complete operation of the actuated key forpreventing the operation of any of said keys until after said operatingmechanism has been restored to normal position.

7. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operat-I ated, and a lock for said actuating devices operableafter the complete operation of the operated actuating device andcontrolled by said, actuating mechanism.

.8 In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofactuating devices to cause said operating mechanism to open and closesaid terminals a varying number of times determined by the actuatingdevice operated,

means for returning said operating mechanism to normal position, meansfor returning each of said actuating devices to normal position, and alocking device for said actuating devices, means for throwing saidlooking device into locking position after the operated actuating devicehas been restored to normal position, and means for returning saidlocking device to normal position at the end of the return movement ofsaid operating mechanism.

' 9. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofdepressible keys cooperating with said operating mechanism to move thesame varying distances to cause it to open and close said terminals avarying number of times determined by the actuating device operated,means for returning said operating mechanism to normal position, springsfor returning said actuating devices to normal position, a lock for saidkeys, a spring operated device for moving said lock to locking positionafter the complete operation of the actuated key, and

means for returning said lock to normal po sition at the end of theoperation of said operating mechanism.

10. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofdepressible keys cooperating with said operating mechanism to move thesame varying distances to cause it to open and close said terminals avarying number of times determined by the actuating device operated,means for returning saidoperat ing mechanism to normal position, springsfor returning said actuating devices to normal position, a lock for saidkeys, a spring actuated device for moving said lock to locking positionat one point in the operation of said actuating mechanism, and ayieldable device for returning said lock to normal position at the endof the operation of said operating mechanism.

11. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofdepressible keys cooperating with said operating mechanism to move thesame varying distances to cause it to open and close said terminals avarying number of times determined by the key operated, means forreturning said operating mechanism'to normal position, springs forreturning said keys to normal position, a lock for said keys, means forthrowing saidlock to locking position at one point in the operation ofsaid operating mechanism, and-a yieldable device for returning said lockto normal position at the end of the operation of said operatingmechanism.

12. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofdepressible keys cooperating with said operating mechanism to move thesame varying distances to cause it to open and close said terminals avarying number of times determined by the actuating device operated,means for returning said operating mechanism to normal position, springsfor returning said actuating devices to normal position, a lock for saidkeys, said lock consisting of a movable plate arranged adjacent to saidkeys, said plate having cutaway portions normally in line with saidkeys, means formoving the solid portion of said plate in the path ofsaid keys after the operated key has been returned to'normal position,and means for restoring said plate to normal position at the end of theoperation of said operating mechanism.

13. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofdepressible keys cooperating with said operating mechanism to move thesame varying distances to cause it to open and close said terminals avarying number of times determined by the actuating device operated,means for returning said operating mechanism to normal position, springsfor returning said actuating devices to normal position. a lock for saidkeys. said lock consisting of a. plate arranged adjacent to said keysand having cut-away portions normally in line with said keys, ayieldable lever on said actuating mechanism, a pin on said plateprojecting into the path of movement of said lever whereby said platewill be thrown to locking position after the operated key has beenrestored to normal position, and means for returning said plate tonormal position at the end of the operation of said operating mechanism.

14. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofdepressible keys cooperating with said operating mechanism to move thesame varying'distances to cause it to open and close said terminals avarying number of times determined bythe actuating device operated,means for returning said operating mechanism to normal position, springsfor returning said actuating devices to normal position, a lock for saidkeys, said lock consisting of a plate arranged adjacent to said keys andhaving cut-away portions normally in line with said keys, a yieldablelever on said actuating mechanism, a pinv on said plate projecting intothe path of movement of said lever whereby said plate will be thrown tolocking position after the operated key has been restored to normalposition, and a second yieldable lever connected with said operatingmechanism for returning said plate to normal position at the end saidkeys having cut-away portions normally in line withsaid keys, a pair ofyieldable levers pivotally connected with said operating mechanism, apin on said operating mechanism projecting between said levers, a pin onsaid plate projecting between said levers so that upon the operation ofany of said keys, one of said yieldable levers will move with theoperating mechanism and so soon as said key has been restored to normalposition, the other lever will move said locking plate to lockingposition and upon return movement of said operating mechanism, saidfirst mentioned yieldable lever will restore said locking plate tolocking position.

16. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals,actuating devices to cause said operating mechanism to open and closesaid terminals a varying number of times, and means for locking saidoperating mechanism against further movement when an ac- 1075 tuatingdevice is fully operated to prevent overthrow.

17. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, aseries of actuating devices to cause said operating mechanism to openand close said terminals a varying number of times determined by theactuating device, operated, and means associated with said actuatingdevices to lock said operating mechanism against ,further movement inone direction to prevent overthrow of the same.

18. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals,said operating mechanism com prising a rotatable device having projec-"tions, a series of actuating devices cooperating with said projectionsto cause said operating mechanism to open and close said terminals avarying number of times determined by the actuating device operated, andmeans on said actuating devices cooperating with said projections forthe purpose of locking said actuating mechanism against further movementin the direction impelled by said actuating devlces to preventvoverthrow of said actuating mechanism.

19. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an operating mechanism cocperating'with said terminals,said operating mechanism comprising a rotatable device having a seriesof projections. a series of actuating devices cocperating with saidrojections for moving said operating mec anism varying distances in onedirection, means for returning said operating mechanism to normalposition, and hook-shaped portions on said actuating devices forengagement with said.

projections at the end of the movement of said operating mechanism asimpelled by the operated actuating device to lock said mechanism againstfurther movement -to prevent overthrow thereof.

20. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals,said operatin mechanism comprising a rotatable disk aving a series ofprojections, a series of depressible keys having inclined surfacesthereon cocperating with said projections to move said actuatingmechanism in one direction varying distances, a hook-sha ed portion oneach of said keys at the en of the inclined surface thereon adapted toengage the projection on said operating mechanism corresponding withsaid key to lock said operating mecha-.

nism against further movement in the direction impelled by said key, andmeans for returning said operating mechanism to normal position whenreleased by said key.

21. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an operating mechanism cocperating with said terminals,said operating mechanism comprising a revoluble disk and a series ofprojections arranged about the periphery of said disk at substantiallythe same distance from the center of revolution thereof, and a series ofactuating devices having graduated inclined surfaces cooperating withsaid pro jections.

22. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of an o erating mechanism cooperating with said terminals,said operating mechanism comprising a revoluble disk having a series ofprojections arranged about the periphery thereof, a friction roller oneach of said projections, and a series of actuating devices havinggraduated inclined surfaces adapted to cocperate'with said frictionrollers.

23. In an impulse transmitter, the combination with a pair of parallelplates, of a series of button plungers distributed in the circumferenceof a circle and each reciprocatively mounted in alined openings in saldplates, a rotatable device cooperating with said plungers, andcircuit-changing mechanism controlled by said rotatable device andadapted to be operated in various characteristic manners depending uponwhich of the button plungers is reciprocated.

24. In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals,'of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, aseries of actuating devices for setting said operating mechanism atvarying positions, means for returning the operated actuating device tonormal position, means for returning said operating mechanism to normalposition to cause it to operate said terminals, and means for preventingsaid operating mechanism from startin to return'to normal position untilafter sai actuating device has been restored to normal position. v 25.In an impulse transmitter, the combi nation, with the circuit terminals,of an operating mechanism cooperating with said terminals, a series ofactuating devices cooperating with said operating mechanism, means forreturning said operating mechanism to normal position and means for alsoreturning said actuating devices to normal position, a spring-actuateddevice controlled by said actuating devices adapted to be released atthe end of the return movement to normal position of any of saidactuating devices,.a detent for said operating mechanism to hold thesame in its operated position and means for causing the movementof saidspring actuated device to release said detent. I

26; In an impulse transmitter, the combination, with the circuitterminals, of. an operating mechanism cocperating with said terminals, aseries of actuating devices cooperating with said operating mechanism,means for returning said operating mechanism to normal position andmeans for also returning said actuating devices to normal position, alocking device for said actuating devices together with means forthrowing the same into locking position at the end of the returnmovement of the operated actuating device to normal position, a detentfor preventing said operating mechanism from returning to normalposition, and means for releasing said detent by the operation of Zaidlocking device, as substantially speci- 27. In an impulse transmitter, aplurality of actuating buttons, an impulse operating device set by thedepression of any of said buttons, and means to prevent the depressionof any button during the impulse sending movement of said operatingdevice.

98. In an impulse transmitter, a plurality of actuating buttons, animpulse operating device set by the depression of any of said ofactuating buttons, a common operating buttons, and means to prevent thedepresdevice variously set thereby, and means to sion of any buttonduring the return moveprevent the return movement of said operatment ofsaid operating device. ing device While any button is out of normal 15 529. In an impulse transmitter, a plurality position.

of actuating buttons, :1 common operating In testimony whereof, I havehereunto set device variously set thereby, and means to my hand this10th day of October 1911.

prevent the impulse sending movement of WILLIAM M. BRUCE, JR. saidoperating device While any button is Witnesses: 10 out of normalposition. CHAS. I. WELOH,

30. In an impulse transmitter, a plurality OLIVER T. CLARKE.

